A psychologist is a professional with expertise in how people think, feel, and behave from a scientific viewpoint. Their profound knowledge and unique training allow them to assess and diagnose mental disorders as well as treat a variety of mental health issues. Psychologists primarily use psychotherapy to help people understand and change their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours to improve their overall well-being.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors with a speciality in mental health and mental disorders. As medical doctors, they are allowed to prescribe medication. Medication is often their preferred method of treatment, but some psychiatrists also provide psychotherapy.
A psychometrist is a professional who administers and scores psychological tests as part of an assessment. They may also assist in analyzing data, interpreting results, and writing reports. They work under the supervision of a registered psychologist. The psychologist is ultimately responsible for the outcomes of the assessment (i.e., conclusions, recommendations), and for communicating diagnoses, if relevant.
No, a referral is not generally required to receive psychological services. However, some insurance companies will ask for a referral or a prescription from a family physician for the psychological services to be reimbursed.
Unfortunately, psychological services are not covered by OHIP. However, most psychological services can be reimbursed by your insurance provider or health care benefits plan.
All psychological services are invoiced at an hourly rate ranging between $235 and $255. The total fee for a psychological assessment will vary depending on the complexity of the assessment. Consultations with other health professionals, documentation and file review, phone interviews, letter or report writing, and form completion are also subject to the hourly rate.
The nature of psychological services involves sharing personal information and personal health information with your clinician. When requesting services, we will collect demographic information such as your name, telephone number, and address, as well as your child’s name and date of birth. We may also ask for some basic information about you or your child’s current life situation and the difficulties you/they are experiencing to determine whether our services are a good fit for your needs. Over the course of an assessment and therapy, we will ask for additional information. However, we will collect, use, and communicate only the information needed for deliver effective psychological services, respecting the Federal privacy legislation about the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information, the steps taken to protect that information, and your right to review personal information.
Your confidentiality will be respected at all times. None of the information that you disclose to will be communicated to a third party without your written, informed consent. Exceptions to confidentiality include the legal or ethical obligations to:
